Former Musgrave staffer said congresswoman said she “probably could support civil unions”

U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave[2] thanks supporters after her win in the 2006 election. (AP Photo/John Epperson)

Former Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave once told a staffer she could probably support civil unions[3] because it wasn’t marriage, according to a Facebook posting.

The post was written by state Rep. B.J. Nikkel, of Loveland, who served as Musgrave’s district director in the 4th Congressional District[4]. Nikkel became a hero in the gay community this session for voting with Democrats to send a civil-unions bill out of its first committee hearing[5]. Some conservatives consider her a traitor.

Nikkel, in taking on a Musgrave family member on Facebook, said in her post that her civil-unions vote doesn’t make her a liberal any more than Musgrave’s support of the bailout and other issues makes Musgrave a liberal.

The attack mailer that went after Republican House candidate Jeff Hare[9] is now part of a federal lawsuit involving the altered photograph used in the campaign literature.

Nikkel’s FB post was in connection with an ongoing GOP feud over a state House primary this year. Steve Humphrey[10] defeated Jeff Hare in a race where Hare’s opponents, including Dudley Brown[11] of Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, were accused of dirty tactics. One mailer attacking Hare featured a photo of two men kissing, and is now part of a federal lawsuit[12].

There have been a number posts about the race on the Weld County Republicans Facebook site, including this recent one by Amy Carlson[13], who wrote:

I’m still seeing post on friends’ pages regarding the Jeffrey T. Hare/Steve Humphrey race. While I understand the distaste for negative campaigning, I find the reckless accusations of fraud and collusion to be unfounded. I, as a voter in HD48, simply find Hare to not be conservative enough to vote for.

… As far as campaign finance, the Second Amendment, and his stance of supporting Civil Unions, I just don’t see him as a good fit for this super conservative district. Clearly, as you look at the votes in the primary, I’m not alone in feeling this way. The voters in Weld County are educated voters. We weren’t duped. We know for whom we voted!

I also urge those throwing accusations around to take a step back. Pick up the phone and have a conversation. By spreading mistruths about good individuals, you are no better than what you say you oppose. I know neither man personally but I hope the bitterness can be put aside as we cast our votes on Tuesday.

In a later post on the same thread, Carlson accused Nikkel of being a liberal because of her support for the civil-unions bill. That prompted the following Nikkel post to Carlson:

I think you should reveal to the readers here that you are Marilyn Musgrave’s daughter.

Having worked as your mom’s district director I was privy to a lot of conversations, including one where she said she would probably support civil unions, too — it’s because it is NOT marriage.

If I’m a liberal for that one vote, in spite of the rest of my conservative record, so is your mom a “liberal” for getting our country further in debt by:

Voting YES on $60 Billion stimulus package for jobs, infrastructure, & energy. (Sep 2008); She Voted YES on overriding Bush’s veto on expansion of Medicare. (Jul 2008) She supported spending more money our country could not afford by Voting YES on expanding services for offenders’ re-entry into society. (Nov 2007) and many, many other votes I could find if I wanted to.

She got in big trouble with your family friend Dudley Brown over the big vote expanding government intrusion in our lives by Voting YES on making the PATRIOT Act[14] permanent! (Dec 2005). She Voted YES on implementing CAFTA, Central America Free Trade. (Jul 2005) which also torqued people off.

Do I think your mom’s a liberal? Of course not! And, neither am I.

You should stop stirring up trouble, be honest with Weld County folks about who you really are and how you’ve personally been involved in actively help Dudley primary people he doesn’t like. You might admit he did similar “hit” pieces for your mom to get her elected against Don Ament[15], against Weld County’s Clair Orr[16] and others — and that is why you defend him. It’s why you defend his attack of Jeffrey Hare (and yes it was an attack).

Be involved if you want Amy. Just don’t try to deceive people about your interests in this.

Carlson did not respond to requests for interviews. She removed her comments from the Facebook thread sometime Saturday night, around the same time I messaged her and asked her to have her mother contact me. Brown could also not be reached for comment.